Mort confident British-bred runners are major contenders in the Derby
The recent success of Romeo Tomcat and Romeo Steel has Liz Mort confident that the British-bred runners are more than capable of holding their own in the English Greyhound Derby.
British bred can take on the best of the Irish
Liz Mort, chair of the British Greyhound Breeders Forum (BGBF), says the success of Romeo Tomcat and Romeo Steel in the first two major British-bred competitions of 2026 at Nottingham last week should have British breeding confident of a strong showing in the Star Sports & Orchestrate Ltd. English Greyhound Derby at Towcester.
Romeo Tomcat won the BGBF British Breeders Stakes Final and Romeo Steel successfully defended his BGBF British Bred Midlands Sprint Trophy for a big-race double for trainer Patrick Janssens and owner and breeder Dave Firmager at the Colwick Park track - and Mort reckons the wins prove the British-bred scene stands comparison with elsewhere in the world in terms of quality.
“I thought this year’s Nottingham finals, while restricted to British-breds, were as good as any if you look at the times the dogs were clocking,” she said.
“The Firmagers are definitely at the top of the game just now, but competitions like those at Nottingham prove over and over again that we in the UK can breed dogs as good as anywhere in the world!
“David and Nicola Firmager set an amazing example to breeders, trainers and owners. They know that if you choose the sire and dam right, rear the pups right, and train them right, you can get marvellous results. We are lucky to have breeders like them in the UK and hopefully they inspire others - and there are some fantastic British breeders out there.”
In terms of Romeo Tomcat and Romeo Steel’s Derby chances, Mort added: “Both run Towcester well and both were big-race winners on Derby final night at Towcester last year - Tomcat winning the (PricedUp.Bet) Derby Plate and Steel the BGBF TruFrame Champion Stakes, on what was amazing night for Patrick (Janssens) given he also won the Derby itself with Droopys Plunge.
“Tomcat is probably Patrick’s number one and I’m sure he’d love to win a Derby for the Firmagers - both owners and trainers have won it before separately, Patrick twice, of course - but winning it together with a ‘Romeo’ would be something special am sure.”
